Low-pressure die-casting apparatus and device for pre-production setup of same

ABSTRACT

A low-pressure die-casting apparatus including a furnace framework, a furnace with a riser cap movably positioned in the framework, a rail or rails and a press which is adapted to translate on the rails from a position remote from the furnace to a casting position over the furnace. The rails are movable in the longitudinal direction and are provided with downward shaped portions and positioning stops adjacent the downward shaped portions. The press includes an upper and a lower platen. The lower platen has a bore which is adapted to engage the riser cap of the furnace. When the press is positioned above the furnace, it engages the downward shaped portions in the rails and the adjacent stops, and is thereby positioned and lowered over the furnace allowing the bore in the lower platen to engage the riser cap of the furnace so that molten material may flow from the furnace to the press. The movable mounting of the press and the longitudinally movable rails provides adjustments for accurately aligning the bore in the lower platen, the casting die in the press and the furnace riser cap. A centering jig bar with a jig hole may be substituted for the casting die to allow preproduction adjustment of the die-casting apparatus.

United States Patent 1 1 Plume 1 1 July 31, 1973 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner.lohn E. Roethel Attorney-Irving M. Weiner [75] Inventor: Alan Walter Plume,

- Hampton-on-Thames, England [73] Assignee: A. W. Plume Limited, Twickenham,

England [57] ABSTRACT 22 F'l 1 l 72 I 1 d Jan 0 9 A low-pressure die-castmg apparatus mcludmg a fur- [21] Appl. No 16,628 nace framework, a furnace with a riser cap movably po- Rehted U S Application Data sitioned in the framework, a rail or rails and a press 63 C which is adapted to translate on the rails from a posi- 1 ggg sggg g of tion remote from the furnace to a casting position over a e the furnace. The rails are movable in the longitudinal direction and are provided with downward shaped por- [30] Foreign Apphuum f' Data tions and positioning stops adjacent the downward Oct. 2, I968 Great Britain 46,684/68 ap portions: h press d s a pp m a lower platen. The lower platen has a bore which is [52] US. Cl 164/306, 164/119, 164/136, adapted to engage the riser cap of the furnace when 164/343 the press is positioned above the furnace, it engages the [51] 111. CI 822d 17/06 downward shaped portionsin the rails and the adjacent [58] Fleld OI Search 164/113, 119, 129, stops, and is thereby positioned and lowered over the 164/130, 136, 137, 259, 306, 322, 323, 325, furnace allowing the bore in the lower platen to engage 343; 214/41 R, 44 R; 141/113, 172, 232, 233, the riser cap of the furnace so that molten material may 275, 276, 277, 278; 104/249, 250, 2 flow from the furnace to the press. The movable mounting of the press and the longitudinally movable [56] References Cted rails provides adjustments for accurately aligning the UNITED STATES PATENTS bore in the lower platen, the casting die in the press and 2,847,739 8/1958 Sylvester 164/119 t e ur ace riser cap. A centering jig bar with a jig hole 3,368,608 '2/1968 Woodburn 164/130 may be substituted for the casting die to allow pregfig gg 1963 e zi ic- 64/ 36 production adjustment of the die-casting apparatus.

,5 3, 7 21971 Ru dic 141/113 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10 chims 6 Drawing Figures 275,703 6/1930 Italy 104/249 E] 1:1 1:1 l D 1 Patented July 31, 1973 3,749,154

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Patented July 31, 1973 3,749,154

4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented July 31, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @mEDQI LOW-PRESSURE DIE-CASTING APPARATUS AND DEVICE FOR PIKE-PRODUCTION SETUP OF SAME CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 862,863 filed Oct. 1, I969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to diecasting apparatus and more particular, to low-pressure die-casting apparatus in which molten metal is introduced into a die cavity from a furnace by feeding a gas under a relatively low pressure into the furnace, and devices for accurately setting up, or aligning the components of the diecasting apparatus prior to the insertion of a casting die in the press to assure efficient production.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional arrangement, a die-cavity is defined by two cooperating mold halves carried between the upper and lower platens, respectively, of a press which may be used for separating the mold halves to permit removal of a casting. Alternately, the mold may be divided vertically with both mold halves resting upon the lower platen. A die-cavity is connected to a furnace by means of a bore which extends through a lower platen to a riser cap located on the top of the furnace and connected to an up-tube extending downwardly into molten metal contained in a furnace.

Suitable means must be provided to permit access to the riser cap or to the interior of the furnace, for example, in the case of blockages or breakage of the crucible in the furnace. The prior art arrangements designed for this purpose suffer from the disadvantages of complexity and high cost.

Further, the prior art apparatus suffer from a lack of adjustability of their components which results in difficulty in accurately setting up or aligning the components of the die-casting apparatus for efficient production.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus in which the above-described disadvantages are effectively reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides both a device for initially and accurately setting up, i.e., accurately arranging and aligning for production, and a low-pressure diecasting apparatus which includes a press having upper and lower platens and wheels or casters. The press is movable on a rail or rails in a generally horizontal direction to and away from a casting position over the furnace. A bore is disposed in the lower platen, and a riser cap or outlet adapted to sealably associate with the bore in the lower platen is disposed in the furnace. The rails have cut-out portions which receive the rollers of the press and serve to lower the press over the furnace allowing the bore in the lower paten and a casting die disposed in the press to communicate with the riser cap in the furnace. Adjustable stops are located adjacent to at least one of the cut-out portions in the rails to accurately position the press both in a longi tudinal direction and vertical position over the furnace.

The device for initially setting up the low-pressure die-casting apparatus includes a furnace frame which houses the furnace, and means to adjust the position of the furnace in this frame. The generally horizontal rails include means to adjust the longitudinal position of the tracks over the furnace. A centering jig bar having a hole therethrough of the same diameter as a hole in the riser cap of the furnace is adapted to be positioned in the press between the upper and lower platens. Prior to positioning a die in the press, the die-casting apparatus is set up, i.e., accurately adjusted or organized for production by positioning the jig bar in the press, moving the press over the furnace, adjusting the relative position, in both longitudinal and vertical directions, of the riser cap of the furnace with the jig hole in the centering jig bar by adjusting the position of the furnace in its frame, and aligning the longitudinal direction of the press over the furnace and by adjusting the longitudinal position of the track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Like reference characters refer to the like parts throughout the several views and in which:

- FIG. I is a side elevational view of the die-casting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows diagrametically a detail of one embodiment of a cut-out portion in the track of the die-casting apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an elevational end view of one embodiment of the present invention showing the device for initially setting up a die-casting apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a portion of the die-casting apparatus showing the means for longitudinally adjusting the position of the rails and the adjustable stops.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, by way of example, the low-pressure die-casting apparatus include a furnace I mounted within a framework 2, and a press 3 having an upper platen 4 and a lower platen 5 in which a mold or die halves may be secured.

The lower platen 5 is provided with wheels 6 running on rail 7 by means of which the entire press 3 may be moved generally horizontally, for example, under the influence of a hydraulic cylinder from a casting position, shown in FIG. 1, to a position remote from or clear of the furnace to permit access to the furnace.

Press positioning means or cut-out portions 11 having an inclined sloping surface at one end adapted to receive rail 6 are located in the rails 7. Adjustable stops 8 are positioned adjacent at least one of the cut-out portions 11 and are adapted to either abutt a wheel 6 or an edge of the lower platen 5. As the press 3 is moved toward the casting position, the wheels 6 first engage the downward sloping surface of the cut-out portions 11 thus lowering the press over the furnace at the die-casting position enabling the riser cap 10 of the furnace 1 to engage the underneath of the lower platen at the bore 12, thereby placing the interior of the die cavity in communication with the interior of the furnace. In order to insure an adequate seal between the lower platen and the riser cap, the lower platen rests upo the riser cap. As the wheels 6 engage the cut-out portions 11, the wheels 6 come into abutting reation ship with the adjustable stops 8, the adjustable stops 8 may be positioned to engage, or come into abutting relationship with an edge of the lower platen instead of the wheels 6. As the wheels 6 move into the cut-out portions 11 and into abutting relationship with the adjustable stop 8, the lower platen is horizontally and vertically positioned to that the bore 12 in the lower platen 5 is aligned with the access of the riser cap of the furnace l and a proper seal is created.

It will be appreciated that due to the interengagement between the cap and the platen, the lower platen cannot readily be moved horizontally away from the casting position.

In this way both a proper seal between the riser cap and the lower platen 5 when in the casting position, and disengagement of the riser cap 10 and the lower platen 5 as the press is moved away from the adjustable stops 8 and up the inclined surface of the cut-out portions in the rails is achieved.

The adjustable stops 8 may be placed to either abutt the wheels 6 of the furnace as shown in FIG. 1, or to abutt an edge of the lower platen 5 as shown in FIG. 6. Adjustability of the stops 8 can be provided for by a plurality of slotted holes in the stops disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails, the longitudinal axis of the slotted holes being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rails. Standard bolts are placed through these slotted holes, and secured either to the rails 7 or frame 2. The slotted holes allow the stops 8 to be located longitudinally to the rails 7 in various positions adjacent the cut-out portions 11.

To set up, i.e. accurately arrange or adjust the diecasting apparatus for production prior to placing a die in the press, a device for initially setting up the apparatus is utilized.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the furnace l is movably positioned or mounted in the framework 2. The device is provided with means for adjusting the position-of the furnace l in the frame 2, such as stop bolts 13 located on the base of the framework 2. By manipulating the stop bolts 13, the position of the furnace l in the frame 2 can be altered. The stop bolts 13 may be of any convenient design, for example, each stop bolt may comprise a substantially vertical member having a horizontally threaded hole therethrough in which a standard bolt is placed. The end of the standard bolt which is juxtaposition to the furnace may have a plate attached to it having a relatively large surface area to abutt a wall of the furnace.

Adjustment of the adjustable stop 8 will, of course, effect both the vertical height of the lower platen over the furnace as well as the longitudinal position of the press over the furnace. Therefore, means to adjust the longitudinal position of the rails 7 and the cut-out portions 11 in the rails, such as elongated slots 15 and bolts 17 are provided to further adjust the position of the press 3 over the furnace 1.

With reference to FIG. 6, the slots or elongated holes 15 are disposed perpendicularly through the rail 7 with their longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rails 7. Standard bolts are placed through these slots, and are secured to the frame 2. The slots 15 allow the rails to move in a longitudinal direction. Means to longitudinally move the rails 19 may comprise a substantially vertical plate affixed to the frame 2 disposed in a pocket in the rail. A standard bolt may be placed through this threaded hole and rotatably secured to the rail. To move the rail in a longitudinal direction, the bolts 17 are loosened and the standard bolt of the moving means 19 are then turned either in a clockwise direction to move the rails 7 to the right or in a counterclockwise direction to move the rails 7 to the left as viewed in FIG. 6.

A removable centering means, such as a centering jig bar 21 is adapted to be positioned in the press 3 be tween the upper plate 4 and the lower platen 5 over a bore 12 in the lower platen 5. The centering means, or jig bar 21 has a jig hole 23 in its center which has the same diameter as the hole in the riser cap 10 of the furnace 1.

Initially, prior to positioning a die in the press 3, the die-casting apparatus is set up for production by positioning the centering means or jig bar 21 in the press 3 and locating the press 3 over the furnace 1. In carrying out this operation, the press 3 may be supported on jacking bolts 25 to allow relative movement between the furnace l and the lower platen 5. The riser cap 10 of the furnace 1 is aligned with the jig hole 23 in the jig bar 21 located on the lower platen 5 in place of a die by adjusting the position of the furnace l in the furnace framework 2 by manipulating the furnace position adjustment means or stop bolts 13. The cut-out portions 11 in the rails 7 are then positioned by using the longitudinal adjustment means comprised of locking bolts 17 and elongated slots 19. The locking bolts 17 disposed in the elongated slots 15 in the rail 7 may be loosened to allow the rail 7 to be moved longitudinally to position the cut-out portions 11 in proper relationship with the wheels 6. The adjustable stop means 8 may then be placed into abutting relationship with either one of the wheels 6 or an edge of the lower platen 5. The lower platen 5 is then lowered over the furnace by retracting the jacking bolts 25 such that the wheels 6 are lowered onto the rail 7 in the cut-out portions 11 in the proper position for production casting.

The centering means or jig bar 21 is then replaced by a die, and production casting may commence without further adjustment.

The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clear understanding and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus, which comprises in combination:

a furnace frame;

a furnace movably positioned in said furnace frame;

means to adjust the position of said furnace in said furnace frame;

a riser cap disposed in said furnace projecting upwardly therefrom, said riser cap having a hole therethrough adapted for the passage of molten material;

at least one generally horizontal rail, a portion of which are disposed over said furnace;

means to adjust the longitudinal postion of said rails over said furnace;

rollers rotatably affixed to said press adapted to operatively associate with said rails;

means defining at least one cut-out portion in said rails adapted to receive said rollers, said cut-out portions having an inclined sloping surface at one claim 1, further characterized in that said adjustable stop is adapted to abutt at least one of said wheels.

4. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 2, further characterized in that said means to adjust the longitudinal position of said rails comprise:

means defining a plurality of elongated slots through said rails, disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said rails; and

a plurality of locking bolts, each adapted to be received in and extend through a different one of said plurality of elongated slots, and adapted to be secured to said furnace frame.

5. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 3, further characterized in that said means to adjust the longitudinal position of said rails comprises:

means defining a plurality of elongated slots through said rails disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said rails; and

a plurality of locking bolts, each adapted to be received in and extend through a different one of said plurality of elongated slots, and adapted to be secured to said furnace frame.

, 6. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure diecasting apparatus, comprising in combination:

a furnace frame;

a furnace movably positioned in said furnace frame;

means to adjust the-position of said furnace in said furnace frame;

a riser cap disposed in said furnace projecting upward therefrom, said riser cap having a hole therethrough adapted for the passage of molten material; i

at least one generally horizontal rail, a portion of which is disposed over said furnace;

means to adjust the longitudinal position of said tracks over said furnace;

a die-casting press adapted to' translate on said rails;

press positioning means associated with at least one of said rails;

adjustable stop means disposed adjacent said press positioning means; i

said press having an upper platen and a lower platen;

means defining a bore disposed in the center of said lower platen adapted to receive therethrough said riser cap;

a movable centering means adapted to be positioned in said press between said upper and said lower platens; and

means defining ajig hole in said removable centering means having the same diameter as said hole in said riser cap,

initially, prior to the positioning of the die in said press, said die-casting apparatus is set up by positioning said centering means in said press, locating said press over said furnace, aligning said riser cap of said furnace with said jig hole in said centering means through said hole in said lower platen by adjusting the position of said furnace in said furnace frame, and aligning the longitudinal position of said positioning notches by adjusting the longitudinal position of said rails.

7. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure diecasting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said removable centering means comprises a jig bar.

8. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure diecasting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said means to adjust the position of said furnace in said furnace frame are stop bolts disposed on the base of said frame.

9. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure diecasting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said means to adjust the longitudinal position of said rails over said furnace comprise means defining a plurality of elongated slots disposed in said rail generally perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said rails, and a plurality of locking bolts each adapted to be received in and extend through different ones of said elongated slots, and fastened to said furnace frame.

10. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that:

said press positioning means is at least one cut-out portion in said rail having an inclined sloping surface at one end thereof over which said press travels to enter and leave said cut-out portion; and

said stop means is a generally perpendicular plate adjustably fastened to said furnace frame adjacent an end of at least one of said cut-out portions opposite said end thereof which contains said inclined sloping surface, and being adapted to come into abutting relationship with an edge of said lower platen. 

1. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus, which comprises in combination: a furnace frame; a furnace movably positioned in said furnace frame; means to adjust the position of said furnace in said furnace frame; a riser cap disposed in said furnace projecting upwardly therefrom, said riser cap having a hole therethrough adapted for the passage of molten material; at least one generally horizontal rail, a portion of which are disposed over said furnace; means to adjust the longitudinal postion of said rails over said furnace; rollers rotatably affixed to said press adapted to operatively associate with said rails; means defining at least one cut-out portion in said rails adapted to receive said rollers, said cut-out portions having an inclined sloping surface at one end over which said rollers travel to enter and leave said cut-out portions; and at least one adjustable stop adjacent at least one of said cutout portions in said rail at an end thereof opposite said end having said inclined sloping surface.
 2. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said adjustable stop is adapted to abutt an edge of said lower platen.
 3. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said adjustable stop is adapted to abutt at least one of said wheels.
 4. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 2, further characterized in that said means to adjust the longitudinal position of said rails comprise: means defining a plurality of elongated slots through said rails, disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said rails; and a plurality of locking bolts, each adapted to be received in and extend through a different one of said plurality of elongated slots, and adapted to be secured to said furnace frame.
 5. A low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 3, further characterized in that said means to adjust the longitudinal position of said rails comprises: means defining a plurality of elongated slots through said rails disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said rails; and a plurality of locking bolts, each adapted to be received in and extend through a different one of said plurality of elongated slots, and adapted to be secured to said furnace frame.
 6. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure die-casting apparatus, comprising in combination: a furnace frame; a furnace movably positioned in said furnace frame; means to adjust the position of said furnace in said furnace frame; a riser cap disposed in said furnace projecting upward therefrom, said riser cap having a hole therethrough adapted for the passage of molten material; at least one generally horizontal rail, a portion of which is disposed over said furnace; means to adjust the longitudinal position of said tracks over said furnace; a die-casting press adapted to translate on said rails; press positioning means associated with at least one of said rails; adjustable stop means disposed adjacent said press positioning means; said press having an upper platen and a lower platen; means defining a bore disposed in the center of said lower platen adapted to receive therethrough said riser cap; a movable centering means adapted to be positioned in said press between said upper and said lower platens; and means defining a jig hole in said removable centering means having the same diameter as said hole in said riser cap, initially, prior to the positioning of the die in said press, said die-casting apparatus is set up by positioning said centering means in said press, locating said press over said furnace, aligning said riser cap of said furnace with said jig hole in said centering means through said hole in said lower platen by adjusting the position of said furnace in said furnace frame, and aligning the longitudinal position of said positioning notches by adjusting the longitudinal position of said rails.
 7. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said removable centering means comprises a jig bar.
 8. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said means to adjust the position of said furnace in said furnace frame are stop bolts disposed on the base of said frame.
 9. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said means to adjust the longitudinal position of said rails over said furnace comprise means defining a plurality of elongated slots disposed in said rail generally perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said rails, and a plurality of locking bolts each adapted to be received in and extend through different ones of said elongated slots, and fastened to said furnace frame.
 10. A device for initially setting up a low-pressure die-casting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that: said press positioning means is at least one cut-out portion in said rail having an inclined sloping surface at one end thereof over which said press travels to enter and leave said cut-out portion; and said stop means is a generally perpendicular plate adjustably fastened to said furnace frame adjacent an end of at least one of said cut-out portions opposite said end thereof which contains said inclined sloping surface, and being adapted to come into abutting relationship with an edge of said lower platen. 